Snow plow



June 20, 1933. MEYER 1,914,610

SNOWPLOW Filed April 16, 1929 Hoa /mew Patented June 20, 1933 R E. as

EDWARD B. MEYER, 0F NEWBUBGH, NEW YORK snow Application filed April 16,

This invention relates generally to snow plows and has particular reference to plows which are intended for operation by automobiles of varIous kinds.

The main purpose of the invention is to provide a plow which can be operated safely and satisfactorily by a vehicle moving at a comparatively high speed. This is accomplished partly by a novel general organization of the apparatus; partly by the fact that tile plow is so constructed as to remove only enough of the snow to provide for the easy passage of the vehicle, the construction differing in this respect from other devices intended to remove substantially all of the snow from a path at least as wide as the vehicle; and partly by the fact that the snow engaging faces are so shaped as to lighten the work of moving the snow aside. Fast and safe operation is also increased by the fact that the plow is not carr'ed on runners or casters, but is suspended in front of the vehicle out of contact normally with the ground. There is, therefore, decreased likelihood of damage by having such runners or casters strike an obstacle. The plow also is so constructed as to cause it to ride over obstacles of some height. In addition to the safety factor this feature is useful when the plow has to be driven over curbs or other rough surfaces.

In add tion to providing a construction which will cause the plow to ride over obstacles, portions of the plow facesmost apt to strike stones and smaller obstacles are made roin material which will yield under impact.

It is preferred to make these portions removable or replaceable, when they become worn or seriously damaged, thereby making repairs a simpler matter than if the entire plow had to be replaced. I

l Vith the foregong and incidental objects in view, the invention consists in a novel construction and relation of parts, the novel features of which are pointed out in append ed claims, and a preferred embodiment of which is hereinafter described, with references to the draw ng accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In sait drawing: i

o uU PLOW 192 9.v Serial No. 355,491.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one of the improved snow plows with some of the associ ated features of an automobile shown in dotted outline.

Fig. 2 is a section'along the line 2-2 of Fi g. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 33 of F ig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4. is a detail view on the line 4& of Fig. 2 of one of the connections for suspend ing the plow in front of a vehicle, showing particularly the devices permitting the lifting of the plow when it passes over an obstacle.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modification of one of the hinge'cenuections between the plow and the vehicle. 7

The preferred embodiment shown in the drawing comprises a pair of blades or mold boards 10 andll of sheet metal secured together by riveting through a strip 12 of metal which forms the cutting edgeand serves tostrengthen the plow. The blades both have concave snow engaging surfaces and it is preferred to have the upper and lower edge of each face in substantially the same vertical plane. It is also preferred to have each of the two mold boards at an angle of seventy to seventy-five degrees to the normal line of travel of the vehicle. By this construction the snow is rolled ahead of the blades to a certain eXtent as well as finally being thrown aside, thereby minimizing side strains and swaying of the vehicle.

At their outer ends the blades 10 and 11 are suitably reinforced by strips 13 and attached to the rear of each blade are two an- 7 gle irons 14 acting as stiffening or reinforcing members, the portions 15 of the angle irons also serving to provide convenient points for attaching various reinforcing bars and plow arms as hereinafter described.

The blades 10 and 11 are cut away under the nose of the plow, as shown at 17 and 18, to provide inclined surfaces which will, when they encounter an obstacle, cause the plow to ride over the obstacle. This is useful when it is necessary to drive the plow over a curb or like obstruction, and also serves to give a clearance which prevents the nose of the plow from catching when running over irregular surfaces. The portions 21 of the lower edge of the blades or mold boards and 11 are normally held at a height sulli cient to clear the snow away ahead of the running gear, but they do not come close to the ground. Near the outer end of each of the blades are what might be termed supplementary blades 22 which, in the normal position of the plow, extend down far enough to remove most of the snow in line with the vehicle wheels. These supplementary blades 22 can readily be extensions of the main blades 10 and 11, but it is preferred to make them of separate pieces which will yield when an obstruction is encountered. If they are bent they can be readily straightened or, if damaged, may readily be replaced.

Both of the supplementary blades 22 have their inner corners cut oil as shown at 23 for the same purposes, as previously stated in connection with the angled edges 18 under the nose of the plow.

Attached to the portions of the two inner angle irons 14 are the ends of angle irons 24 which are, as a matter of convenionce referred to herein as the plow arms. These plow arms are cormected by various members to the blades or mold boards of the plow in such a way as to form a substantially rigid unit including the mold boards and the various members just referred to.-

Extending across the rear of the plow is a stiffening angle iron 25 attached at its ends to the portions 15 of the outer angle'irons 14 andflconnected by bolts 26 to the plow arms 24.. The bolts 26 also hold the lower ends of angle'iron braces 27 which are attached at their upper and forward ends to the inner angle irons 14. Across the lower part of the plow is a second angle iron 28 attached at its ends to the portions 15 of the inner angle irons. An upper brace strip 29 is also attached at its ends to the upper portions 15 of the inner angle irons.

The stiffening and reinforcing effect of the various angle irons so far described is supplemented by angle irons 32 attached at their lower ends to the, cross bar 25 and at their upper and outer ends to the flangesor por tions 15 of the outer angle irons 14.

As previously stated in a general way, the plo is suspended in front of the vehicle in such a way as to hold clear of the ground,

' while, at the same time permitting a tilting movement of the plow when it rides over an obstruction. For this reason the plow arms 24 are bolted at their rear ends to elements 35 which extend between jaws formed on an element 36 forming part of a clamp mechanism for making an attachmentto the front axle 37 of an automobile or truck. The plow arms and the elements 35, or either of them may hay e a number of bolt holes to allow of a certain amount of adjustment in assembling the parts. Horizontal pivot pins 38, which are readily removable, hold the elements 35 and 36 together. The construction of the pivot or hinge shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is very satisfactory, but it is preferred to use the arrangement shown in Fig. 5. In that preferred form the element 36 is formed with a socket L1 to receive a short cylindrical portion 42 formed on the element 35, said two elements being connected by a pivot pin 38 as described in connection with the other form of construction. The opening in the socket ll is of suilicient width only to permit the cylindrical portion 42 to be inserted. This socket arrangement is serviceable in preventing the parts from becoming disengaged in case one of the pivot pins should drop out. 1

Embedded in or integral with the element 36 is a bolt or threaded rod 43, extending through two clamp members 45, and carrying a nut let which cooperates with a shoulder on the member 36 to hold the clamp in position.

The element above referred to, in the position illustrated, extends rearwardly upwardly from the rear end of the plow arm to the pivot pin 38; and the element 36, in. the position illustrated, extends forward ly downwardly to the pivot pin 3 By detachingthe element and turning it upsidedown, and reattaching it, to the plow arm 24, the plow arms may be adjusted to a higher elevation above the ground. Similarly, the element 36 may be detached and turnedupsidedown, by means of the clamp members 45-15 to adjustabiy change the elevation of the pin 38, tocorrespondingly adjust the elevation of the plow arm Thus by inverting one or both of the elements 35 and 38, four different elevational adjusted positions of the plow arm 24 may be effected. I

The plow and its supporting and stifiening structure form a unit which may be held up out of contact with the ground by flexible supports which will permit the unit to swing on the pivot-s 38 in passing over an obstruc tion, but it is preferred tonse the construction shown inthe drawing. That construction includes two members 47 each bolted at one end to the forward cross angle iron 28 and members 48. The members 48 are provide-clavith slots surrounding bolts 49 which also pass through the members 47. the slots permitting an endwise relative movement of the two members when the plow is lifted. The upperends of theelements -18 may be attached in any suitable manner to any convenient points on the vehicle, but in the'drawing this attachment is shown as having been made by clamping the upper ends of the elements 18 to the usual brace rod 51 extending between the front horns 52 of the chassis frame.-

lol

It is, of course, obvious that instead of using the two'members .7 and L8 and their sliding connection, a single rigid connection might be used for suspending theplow, and that the inclined lower edges 17-l8 and 23 will give suflicient clearance to prevent trouble when an irregularity is encountered.

Besides the above described action of the plow frame structure, whereby the structure as a whole may rotate around the pin 38 upon the encountering of obstructions by the lower edges of the blades, and automatic release is provided inthe event that the plowing load, or the pressure of the snow being plowed upon the blades, becomes e2;- cessive or greater than the predetermined amount. It "will be observed that while most of the plowing load is transmitted from the blades rearwardly through the plow arms 24 to the axle 37 a component of this force is transmitted through the diagonal strut elements 4747 to the chassis 52. The members l-T may be relied upon to bend or buckle when the load thereon reaches a pre- 3 determined maximum and thus relieve the load on the blades by the upward rotation thereof around the bin 88. This effect will obtain only as an emergency relief and may be caused to occur at the desired predetermined load by suitably proportioning the cross-sectional area of the members 4:747. Again, addition to the foregoing functions of the parts of the plow above described, the following functions are peri formed during the normal operation of the plow. It is intended as hereinbefore referred to to operate the plow of my invention at relatively high speed of the vehicle to which it is attached. During suchoperations, the chassis indicated at-52 to which the rearward ends of the members 4:? are attached will vibrate up and down relative to the axle 87 being supported by the main vehicle spring. During the vertical vibrations of the chassis 52, the members 47 will execute a relatively hinging movement around their forward lower ends. This hinging movement may be provided for by a flexible connection with the angle iron;

3 as hereinbefore referred to, but the preferred construction is to connect the forward lower ends of the members 47 rigidly to the angle iron 28 and to rely upon the inherent flexibility or resiliency of the members 47.

During the movements of the chassis 52 just referred to, the plow blades will have a slight corresponding vertical up-and-down movement, but at all times out of contact with the ground.

Thus a plow having a very superior mode of operation is provided with a relatively cheap and simple construction. To'this end, the main thrusts are absorbed inthe front axle, being transmitted thereto through the plow arms 24 and the plow is suspended from the ground by the members 47, conveniently secured to the chassis 52, by relatively light members 4;? adapted to bend without injury chassis 52-at a point considerably fmward of the pivot pin 38, but this is not essential and in some cases it may be more desirable to dispose the said connections farther rearwardly to include between the members 47 and the plow arms 24 a more acute angle, whereby,. as will be understood, the up-anddown vibratory movements of the plow blades will be minimized forcorresponding movements of the chassis 52.

lVhile the apparatusshown and described may be used for other purposes, it is particularly intended for use on vehicles which are used for territories where snow may he encountered at anytime. While it may readily be disconnected from the vehicle, it is intended primarily to be left attached so long as there is a chance that it will he needed. It is, therefore, comparatively light in weight, while, at the same time, being sturdy in construction, and, as it is free of the ground at all points can readily be carried at high speeds when the roads are open. When' snow is encountered it will thrust the snow aside easily and with a minimum expenditure of power and with no damaging strains on the vehicle.

lVhile the construction shown and described is admirably adapted to accomplish the'desired results, it is apparent that the invention is capable of other embodiments, with suitable modifications, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

WVhat is claimed is:

1. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven. vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards having their lower edges constructed to cut the snow at different depths, devices for suspending the snow engaging element out'of contact with the ground'andin front of the vehicle, and said mold board edges comprising each a. portion adapted to be disposed substantially parallel with the ground and a forward portion generally central of the element disposed farther from the ground.

2. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards having their lower edges constructed to cut the snow at different depths, devices for suspendingthe snow engaging element out of contact with the ground and in front of the vehicle, and said mold board edges comprising each a portion adapted to be disposed substantially parallel with the ground and a forward portion upwardly inclined therefrom.

3. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards having their lower edges constructed to cut the snow at different depths, devices for suspending the snow engagin element out of contact with the ground an in front of the vehicle, and said mold board edges comprising each a portion adapted to be disposed substantially parallel with the ground and a rearward portion downwardly inclined therefrom.

4. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards having their lower edges constructed to cut the snow at different depths, devices for suspending the snow engaging element out of contact with the ground and in front of the vehicle, and said mold board edges comprising each a portion adapted to be disposed substantially parallel with the ground, a for- 1 ward portion inclined upwardly to a greater distance from the ground and a rearward portion inclined downwardly to a lesser distance from the ground.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a snow engaging portioncomprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards, supporting and reinforcing frame members rigid with the mold boards, substantially horizontal rearwardly extending elements connected to certain of the frame members and pivotally connected to the front axle of an automobile, and members extending upward rearwardly from the framework to the chassis for holding the mold boards out of contact with the ground.

6. In a snow plow apparatus, a pair of snow engaging mold boards, a pair of substantially horizontally disposed rearwardly extending elements connected to the mold boards and adapted to be pivotally connected to the front axle of an automobile, and a pair of laterally spaced members extending upwardly and rearwardly from the mold boards and adapted to be connected to the automobile chassisfor supporting the mold boards out of contact with the ground.

7. In a snow plow apparatus, a, pair of snow engaging mold boards, a. pair of substantially horizontally disposed rearwardly extending elements connected to the mold boards and adapted to be pivotally connected to thefront axle of an automobile, and a pair of laterally spaced members extending upwardly and rearwardly from the mold boards and adapted to be connected to the automobile chassis for supporting the mold boards out of contact with the ground, the members extending upwardly and rearwardly being connected to the mold boards in a manner to permit relative hinging movements therewith during the relative approach and recedingmovements of the chassis and axle in the operation of the automobile.

and the upwardly rearwardly extending members being adapted to support the mold boards out of contact with the ground,and when the mold boards are subjected to plowing loads above a predetermined maximum, being adapted to yield to permit the mold boards to rise to relieve the load.

9. An apparatus of the character described, a pair of mold boards diverging at equal angles from a cutting line and having the lower edge constructed to remove snow at a greater depth in the pathof the wheels of a vehicle than between the wheels, supporting and reinforcing frame members rigid with the mold boards, means comprising horizontally pivoted elements for connecting certain of the frame members to'the front axle of an automobile, and members extending upward from the frame members and connected to the chassis for holding the mold boards out of contact with the ground.

10. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards having their lower edges constructed to cut the snow at different depths, a supporting and reinforcing framework rigid with the mold boards, means comprising horizontally hinged members for connecting the frameworkto the axle of an automobile, and devices connecting the chassis and the framework to hold the snow engaging element free of the ground comprising a sliding connection allowing a limited movement of said ele ment and its framework about the aforesaid hinge.

11. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards, each of said mold boards carrying replaceable depending blades on their lower 3 edges for cutting paths in front of the wheels of the vehicle, and devices for suspending said element from the front of the vehicle and out of contact with the ground. a

12. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element comprising a pair of oppositely turned mold boards, each of said mold boards carrying replaceable depending blades on rearward portions of their loweredges,.the blades having upwardly forwardly inclined edge portions and being disposed on the mold boards to cut paths in front of the wheels of the vehicle, and means for suspending the element from the front of the vehicle and out of contact with the ground.

13. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a pair of snow engaging mold boards, devices for pivotally connecting the mold boards to a motor vehicle whereby it may oscillate vertically on a transverse horizontal axis, means extending rearwardly upwardly from the mold boards to the vehicle for normally supporting the mold boards out of contact with the ground and connected to the mold boards in a manner to permit hinging movement relative thereto during the relative vertical movements of the vehi cle portions to which they are attached, and comprising flexible elements permitting an upward oscillatory movement of the mold boards.

14:. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a plow having two faces diverging from a cutting edge, said plow being cut away under its nose to cause the plow to ride up over curbs and the like, plow arms, members on the vehicle to which the plow arms are connected by horizontal pivots, and means connected to the vehicle for holding the plow with its lower edges normally out of contact with the ground constructed to allow the plow and its arms to turn on the aforesaid pivots when the plow rides over a curb or the like.

15. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging member, an element attached to the vehicle and provided with one of a pair of mating socket elements, a plow arm connected with the snow engaging member and extending rearwardly therefrom and carrying on its rearward end the other mating socket element, upwardly rearwardly extending elements connected to the snow engaging member and to the vehicle and carrying the weight of the member and thereby exerting a rearward thrust on the plow arm to maintain the socket elements in mating engagement.

16. In a snow plow mechanism for motor driven vehicles, a snow engaging element, arms extending rearwardly from the snow engaging element adapted to be pivotally connected to the vehicle, and pivot connecting means comprising an element adapted to be detachably connected to each arm in either of two positions relative thereto with a portion thereof respectively rearwardly upwardly inclined or rearwardly downwardly inclined at an angle to the arms, and each element having a pivot portion, and comprising an element adapted to be detachably secured to the vehicle axle in either of two positions with a portion thereof respectively downwardly forwardly inclined or upward- 

